Britain braces for fourth heatwave of year as fire chiefs issue public appeal

Sun-scorched grass in Primrose Hill, central London, on Monday. Southern England has had just 1% of its average July rainfall. Photograph: Henry Nicholls/AFP/Getty Images

Paramedics and firefighters are braced for emergencies across the country this week after UK forecasters predicted a fourth heatwave of the year.

Temperatures are forecast to reach as high as 35C by Wednesday, triggering heat health alerts and an appeal from fire chiefs to take care in parched parks and rural areas.